Kingdom of Rain

[tracker7]

I've spent several hours this week learning more about wrangling InDesign.  This is good - I'm being challenged, not sitting around looking for something to do.  It may pay off reasonably soon, too - we've got a designer who may not be around much longer, and although there are certainly going to be candidates with better portfolios than me, I'm already in the system, and with the current HR climate throughout McClatchy, an internal hire is more attractive.

Of late, I've noticed a powerful resurgence of a part of my personality I do not like at all - a drive towards self-destruction.  I don't know where this thing comes from, but every few years, it shows up and makes things rather icky.  I've recognized it early this time around, and don't expect to make too many dreadful mistakes, but I'll quite probably be making the occasional panicky phone call to a few of you.

Massive storm system moving into the area for the day.  Two waves of storms, the larger of the two hitting in the afternoon.  Should be all kinds of fun on the commutes.

John McCain announced his candidacy last night on Letterman.  8 years ago, I would have been behind him, at least a little bit, but as he's made a bad habit of dropping lockstep into the BushCo doctrine.  I think he's a more viable candidate than Giuliani;  don't really know enough about Romney.  The likelihood of anybody on that side of the spectrum getting my vote is pretty slim, though.

tegyrius' Blue Planet game starts up tonight.  The last time we played BP was about forever ago, but I remember greatly enjoying it.  It's one of the best-designed settings I've ever seen, and if it has a fault, it's that there's so much to do that you can't really touch everything.  This is going to be a fun stretch of gaming.

On a loosely-related sad note, Necromancer Games is shutting down.  They put out some great D&D3/3.5 material.

Comments

[cathymg2.livejournal.com]

Ahhh, politics. Jim and I discuss the '08 presidential bids almost every day -- it's a shame you two can't more often! As you may remember, Jim is a big-time Republican, while I'm a Democrat.

Personally, I'm excited about the Dem. primaries. With all the different types of candidates, it's going to make for a great race. I just hope they all stay in long enough for the NC primary and for me to vote.

But those poor republicans, I gotta say, I'm not too impressed yet. Rudy (who we [mostly Jim] refer to as the talking jackass) and John McCain. A egotistical jerk and a slightly unstable man who was locked in a box for years at a time. HHmmmm...!

Jim believes Newt Gingrich is also gearing up to run. He also would like to see Mark Sanford, gov. of SC, run.

Should be interesting! I'm almost sad to not still be in the news business for this one.

[tracker7.livejournal.com]

Jim's a _good_ Republican, though, as I remember.

I hope hope hope that Bill Richardson winds up with the Dem nod, but I'm afraid that Clinton and Obama will create so much noise that he'll just get lost in it all. I much prefer a governor for a candidate than a senator, especially a two-term or less senator. Executive experience counts for a _lot_, and Richardson's got scads of credits from his time in Wild Bill's cabinet.

If McCain hadn't rolled over for Rove, I'd have more respect for him, and give some thought to supporting him. He's just flat lost his spine since 2000, though. From the Loyal Opposition (which the GOP desperately needs, even now) to just another lockstep Repug. Ick.

Pollitics

[gallowsbait.livejournal.com]

I don't like anybody for the big seat, but if I had to weigh in, I would go for Giuliani, largely because his actions in NY, while I don't claim to know every decision he made, I like the fact that he always seemed to be at the wheel, and sometimes the ability to be stoic in the face of adversity is what we need.

Re: Pollitics

[tracker7.livejournal.com]

I feel that Giuliani would try to play the same card that BushCo has any time they want to push through something - "Nine-eleven changed everything!"

I'm still backing Richardson (New Mexico's governor, with a lot of national/global experience under Clinton) for the Democratic nod. I think the Clinton/Obama fight will take people's attention from a candidate who has that kind of experience and ability, though.